Campaigner ‘well pleased’ with improvements to bus services across Lincolnshire, including Spalding, Stamford, Grantham, Boston, Skegness, Sleaford, Gainsborough and Lincoln

A campaigner has welcomed news that improved bus services are set to be rolled out around the county over the coming weeks - saying he is ‘well pleased’.

Lincolnshire County Council have revealed changes to a number of interconnect and IntoTown services, some of which are already in place, following an £8.5 million boost which will aid the authoroity’s plans to make ‘far-reaching improvements’ to public transport.

Among the routes to receive more regular buses are Spalding-Peterborough, Lincoln-Boston and Grimsby-Market Rasen.

Residents were outraged to discover the number 37 Spalding-Peterborough route was being cut to a two hourly service in 2022, with the service described as a ‘lifeline’.

Operator Stagecoach East blamed inflation and rising fuel and energy bills, but by cutting trips and axeing the Sunday service many people were left struggling to get to work or vital appointments.

Crowland resident Rodney Sadd, who launched a petition to reistate the service, was pleased to hear the news.

“I welcome this because I’ve seen the buses used more recently, and with the extension of the £2 fare cap that’s helped as well,” he said.

“The aim of the petition was to get ther service back in its entirety, so I’m well pleased about the current position.

“We’d love to see buses regularly for every community from early morning to late night. Our aim is for rural areas that are isolated to have a better service.”

Other changes to the timetables will see improvements to the Lincoln-Boston and Grimsby-Market Rasen services.

The Lincoln-Boston Saturday service will run every 70 minutes as opposed to three times per day from May 1.

Meanwhile the Grimsby-Market Rasen service will run hourly, instead of two hourly, from September.

Improvements to the daily Lincoln-Boston service began on April 8, with the service now running hourly throughout the day, also extending the length of the day at each end.

IntoTown bus services are also being improved in a number of towns.

From May 17 the Stamford service will operate hourly Monday to Saturday as opposed to three days a week.

A number of improvements have already beenmade.

In Grantham the service now runs every 15 minutes. Previously it was every 30 minutes.

Earlier this month the Boston service, which runs every 30 minutes, extended operations by two hours at each end of the day while the Skegness service now runs every 15 minutes instead of every half an hour.

In Gainsborough it now runs with a 15-minute frequency between 6.30am and 7.30pm, in Sleaford an hourly service now runs every 30 minutes while

These improvements are being funded by cash backing from the Bus Service Improvement Plan and Network North.

“The county council received both BSIP and Network North funding to the value of £4.2M and £4.37M respectively over the next two years,” an LCC report read.

“The county council has engaged our bus operators to explore what options will provide the best improvements to bus services in the county and provide great value for money.

“Our overarching plan is create a new baseline for bus services that creates a clear offer to the public and provides much needed services to employment, education and leisure.”

This information was revealed as part of a report prepared for Monday’s highways and transport meeting, where it is recommended Coun Richard Davies, executive councillor for highways, transport and IT approves the council’s ‘streamlined and updated’ Bus Service Improvement Plan.

This is required before the Department for Transport can release additional funds.

In the foreward to the Bus Service Improvement Plan, Coun Davies, writes: “We want to make far-reaching improvements to our local bus services.

“We will enhance our inter-urban services that connect our market towns and city to ensure that there will be a minimum of one bus per hour. We will enhance our Intotown services across our market towns to provide a minimum of a 30-minute service, and in many areas, more frequent than that. We will upgrade our bus stops, ensuring that the ‘shop window’ for bus services gives users what they need to give them the confidence to get around our county by bus. “

What do you think? Is our bus service good enough? Let us know your views in the comments below…